Rapid-fire battery-gun.



J. H. GEBNER. RAPlD FIRE BATTERY GUN.

[\PPLICATION FILED AUG. l3, i917.

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J. H. GERNER.

RAPID FIRE BATTERY GUN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-13.1917.

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'J. H. GERNER.

RAPID FIRE BATTERY GUN.

APPLICATION man Aus.1s.19n.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

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RAPID FIRE BATTERY GUN.

APPLlCiV'iON FILED AUG. 13. 1917.

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RAPID FIRE BATTERY GUN.

APPLICATION men AUG. 13, 1912.

Pafented Nov. 5, 1918.

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RAPID-FIRE BATTERY-GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed August 13, 1917. v Serial No. 185,969.

able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to new and usefulv improvements in rapid firebattery guns and comprises essentially the provision of an.

ordnance apparatus of this nature, so arranged as to deliver firethrough a number of barrels arranged in tiers, comprising a batterywhich may be fired separately or collectively,

The invention comprises a simple and efii-' cient apparatus of thisnature having varlous details of construction, combinations andarrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, and then specifically defined in theappended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with theletters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification,and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved battery gun.

Fig.2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the gun. a

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the breech o the gun.

Fig. 4 is a muzzle elevation. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the breech ofthe gun, parts being broken away, and

v Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a device for cleaning the barrels.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by numerals:

1 designates a cylindrical outlined casting having asight groove 1formed transversely in its upper portion and said casting is providedwith a recess 2 formed transversely therein for the reception of theclips or shell conveyers 13. Said casting is provided with tiers ofapertures 3 in the front wall of the recess therein, the walls of saidapertures being threaded for the reception of the ends. of the barrels4. The outer ends of said barrels having flanges 8 and are supported inapertures 1n the outer end of the water containing cooling jacket 6,which latter has its inner end seated in a circular outlined recess 7formed in the forward face of the casting I. Said water jacket isprovided with a suitable filling opening 10, through which water may beintroduced, and an exit opening 11, each controlled by a threaded plug,and 9 designates a sight upon the upper forward portion of the acket.

Upon reference to Fig. at of the drawings it will be noted that the saidcasting is provided with two laterally extending arms 12,

- parallel to each other and which are recessed at thelr inner edges,

as indicated by numeral 12'. The marginal edges of said recess 12 areflush with the upper and lower faces of the recess 2 formed in thecasting. The shell carriers are made up of a plurality of clips 13having web-portions ll and 15 intermediate the same, and each clip isprovided with shell chambers 16, the number corresponding to the numberof barrels 4, and

each of which chambers, when the clip is in a firing position, is inregistration with a barrel, before it would be possible for the gun tobe fired. Plates 18 have circumferential flanges 19*, which fit over arecessed portion about the circumference of each clip, and each plate isprovided with rows of apertures 20, which are in registration with thechambers of the clips, and the inner faces of said plates are adapted tobear against the outer ends of the shells to hold the same in thechambers provided for their reception. Said casting l is provided with aseries of apertures 21 lead ing from the recess 2 through the rear wallof the casting and adapted to receive the firing pins 21*, each of whichhas a head 22, there being a firing pin for each chamber.

A rebounding disk or plate 23 is provided with apertures 24, whichreceive the outer portions of the firing pins and against which theheads of the pins are adapted to contact. Leaf springs 25 are fastenedat their corresponding ends to the rebound plate and their other endsare secured to the inner face of the casting 1. The ends which arefastened to the rebound plate are allowed a slight play, through themedium of screws 23', which pass through elongated slots in the ends ofthe springs.

' and engage apertures in the rear face of the casting 1 and alsocounter-sunken nuts 27 in the Wall of the recess 2. Said rods passthrough apertures in the rebound plate and 7 support the same, and alsopass through reglstering apertures in the hammer 34,

which latter is provided with a series of recesses 34 in its front flatsurface, which recesses 34' are adapted to receivethe several heads 22of the firing pins and whichserve to prevent the heads being flattenedor distorted when the gunis fired. Said hammer is provided with lugs 33spaced apart and which are slotted as at 32, for the reception of thepivotal pin 31, which is carried by the firing lever 30. The said lever30 is pivotally mounted upon the pin 29', carrled in the forked end ofthe integral arm 28, which projects rearwardly from the lower portion ofthe casting. Said rods 26 have collars 35 held in different adjustablepositions thereon, through the medium of the thumb screws 36, againstwhich the hammer is adapted to contact to limit its throw.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawlngs, it will be noted that theunder edge'of each clip or shell carrier has aV-shaped notch 37, whichis formed in the vertical center of the clip, and 38 ,designates .a pinmounted in a hole 38 in the bottom of therecess 2, and 39 is a springmounted in said hole 38, bearing yieldingly against the bottom of thepin and tending to hold the upper end of the pin, which is tapering,'inthe .notch 37 of the clip to center the latter, before it would bepossible to fire the gun. A rod 41 is pivotally connected through themedium ofvthe pin 43 with the firing lever 30, and has a longitudinalmovement in a'hole 42 formed transversely inlthe casting l andintersecting the hole 38, and theifree end of said rod 41 has a shoulder.41 .formed upon the upper edge thereof' Said pin 38 has a transverseaperture 40- formed therein and which, when in registration. with theaperture 42, will permit the rod 41 to pass therethrough and which isnecessary before the gun can be fired.

In operation, the shells are inserted in the several clips and thelatter placed in the recesses formed in the adjacent edges of the arms12, shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and by moving the clips laterallythe first one of the series when it comes in proper p0- silion so thatthe chambers therein will be in alinement with the barrels and thefiring pins, the spring pressed pin 38 will be thrown up into the notch37, thus insuring the'centering of the clip. When the pin is in itsengaging relation with the, notch 37 the aperture 40 in said pin will bein registration with the h01e42,. which: will permit the shouldered endof the bar 41m pass through the pin and in which position the shoulderedpart will be in front of the latter. The gun may then be fired by theoperator swinging the firing lever 30 forsuflicientto permitthe firingpins to withdraw from the priming caps of the cartridges. This initialbackward movement of the lever will cause the bar 41 to move only a veryslight distance, preferably of an inch, owing to the said bar 41 beingpivotally connected to the lever near its pivotal point. This outermovement of the bar 41 will not be sufficient to prevent thefreedownward movement of the centering pin 38 so that the clips may be movedfreely m one direction or the other, the movement of the clips beingpermitted as the inclined edges of the centering notches 37 come incontact with the inclined portions of the pin 38 at its upper end. When,however,

, the lever and hammer are thrown back to essary for the clip to beproperly centered, 1

which will permit the pin 38 to engage the notch 37, before'the firinglever may be swung upon its pivot inthe act of retracting the hammer tofire the shells in the second clip. In the event-of the pin not engagingthe notch 37, the shouldered por-' tion 41 of the bar 41-would come incontact with the pin about the marginal edges of the aperture thereinand prevent the outer swingingmovement of the firing lever. This,however, would be obviated, as before stated, when'the pin is at itshighest limit ar d in engagement with the notch 37, which will permit alongitudinal movement to the bar 41. Through the medium of the collars35, which are held in adjusted positions through the medium of thescrews 36, the limit of the outer throw of the hammer may be regulated.In Fig. 6 of the drawings is shown a member 49, having a handle 50 atone .end which is provided with a series of rods 48 guided in apertures47 in the flanged 7 48 are permitted to be insertedthrough the variousbarrels for the purpose of ejecting the cartridges or cleaning thebarrels.

In arranging the barrels, it Wlll be noted that the outer tiers areprovided for a d1- verging fire, being at slight lnchnations, whereasthe barrels in the center series are substantially parallel, although itwill. be

understood that the arrangement of the barrels 'may be varied without inany way departing from the spirit of the'invention.

What I claim to be new is:

1. A battery gun, comprising a casting with a recesstherein, the frontWall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a Waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels extending through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenend1n the apertures of said casting, a sliding shell carrying clip movablewithin the recess of the casting, spring pressed means for centering theclip, a rebound plate, firing pins mounted in registering apertures insaid plate and casting, a firing lever, and a hammer connected thereto.

2. A battery gun, comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a Waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels extending through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, a sliding shell carrying clip movableWithin the recess of the casting, spring pressed means for centering theclip, a rebound plate, firing pins mounted, in registering apertures insaid plate and casting, a firing lever, a hammer connected thereto, andmeans for supporting and guiding said hammer.

3. A battery gun, comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a Waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels extending through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, a sliding shell carrying clip movablewithin the recess of the casting, means for centering the clip, arebound plate, firing pins mounted in registering apertures in saidplate and casting, a firing lever, and a hammer'connected thereto, guiderods secured to the casting and passing through apertures in saidrebound plate and hammer, and means for limiting the outer movement ofsaid hammer. 4. A battery gun, comprising a casting with a recesstherein, the front wall of the latter being provided with a series ofapertures, a water jacket secured to said casting and having its forwardend apertured, barrels extending through the apertured end of saidjacket and fastened in the apertures of said casting, a sliding shellcarrying clip with a recess therein, the front wall of the latter beingprovided with a series of apertures, a water jacket secured to saidcasting and having its forward end apertured, barrels extending throughthe apertured end of said jacket and fastened in the apertures of saidcasting, a sliding shell carrying clip movable within the recess of thecasting, a spring pressed pin mounted in the casting and adapted to holdthe clip in a central position, a yielding rebound plate mounted uponthe casting and provided with a series of apertures, firing pins mountedin registering apertures in said plate and casting, a hammer andsupporting guide rods for the same, and a firing lever pivoted to thehammer.

6. A battery gun comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels extending through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, a sliding shell carrying clipmovable-within the recess of the casting, a spring pressed pin mountedin the casting and adapted to hold the clip in a central position, arebound plate having a series of apertures therein in registration withapertures in said casting, springs secured to the latter and havingpivotal slotted connection with said plate, guide rods secured to thecasting and passing through apertures in said plate, a pivotal firinglever, and a hammer connected to said lever and having apertures for thereception of said rods.

7. A battery gun comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels extending through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, a sliding shell carrying clip movableWithin the recess of the casting, a spring pressed pin mounted in thecasting and adapted to hold the clip in a central position, a reboundplate having a series of apertures therein in registration withapertures in said casting, springs secured to the latterand havingpivotal slotted ries .of apertures, firing connection with said plate,guide rods secured to the casting and passing through apertures in saidplate, ,said casting having a rearwardly extending integral arm, afiring lever pivoted thereto, and a hammer of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, asliding shell carrying clip movablewithin the recess of the casting, a spring pressed pin mounted in thecastin and adapted to hold the clip in a central position, a yieldingrebound plate mounted upon the casting and provided vwith a sepinsmounted in registering apertures in sa1d plate and casting and havingheads at their outer ends, a hammer and supporting guide rods for thesame, a pivoted firing lever connected to said hammer, the forward faceof thehammer being flat and provided with re-.

cesses to receive the heads of the firing pins.

9. A battery gun comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a Waterjacket secured-to said casting and having its forward end apertured,barrels ex-' tending through the apertured end of saidjacket andfastened in the apertures of said casting, sliding shell carrying clipsmovable within the recess of the casting, flanged plates fitted over therear faces of the clips and having apertures in registration with thechambered portions of the clips, the rear wall of said recess beingprovided with a series of apertures, a rebound plate supported by thecasting and having apertures in reg- .lstration with said apertures inthe rear of the casting, firing'pins mounted in the registeringapertures of the rebound plate and rear wall of the casting and movablethrough the apertures insaid flanged plates, means for centering theclips, a hammer, means for supporting the same and a lever to which thehammer is pivoted.

10. A battery gun comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a waterjacket secured to sa1d casting and havin its forward end aperture-d,barrels exten ing through the apertured end of said jacket and fastenedin the apertures of said casting, sliding shell carrying clips movablewithin the recess of the castmg, flanged plates fitted over the rearfaces of the clips,

each clip having a notch in the under edge thereof and said flangedplates having apertures in registration with the chambered portions ofthe clips, the rear wall of said recess being provided with a series ofapertures, a rebound plate supported by the casting and having aperturesthe rear of the casting, firing pins mounted in the registeringapertures of the rebound plate and rear Wall of, the cast-- ing andmovable through the apertures in said flanged plates, a spring pressedpin for engagement with a notch in a clip to center the same, a pivotalfiring lever, a hammer carried thereby,'and means actuated by theapertures in registration, with said lever for locking the gun againstbeing fired when sa1d pin is out of engagement with the notch in a clip.

11. A battery gun comprising a casting with a recess therein, the frontwall of the latter being provided with a series of apertures, a Waterjacket secured to said casting and having its forward end apertured,bar-- rels extending through the apertured end of said jacket andfastened in the apertures of said casting, sliding shell carrying clipsmovable, Within the recess of the casting, flanged plates fitted overthe rear faces of the clips, each clip having a notch in the under edgethereof and said flanged plates having apertures in registration withthe chambered portions of the clips, the rear wall of said recess beingprovided with a series of apertures, a rebound plate supported by the 9casting and ,having apertures in registration with said apertures in therear of the casting, firing pins mounted in the registering apertures ofthe rebound plate and rear wall of the casting and movable through theaper- 1 tures in said flanged plates, a spring pressed pin forengagement with a notch in a clip to center the same, a pivotal firinglever, a'hammer carried thereby, a bar pivoted at one end to said lever,said casting being provided with a transverse hole in which said bar hasa longitudinal movement intersecting a hole in which said pin ismounted, thev latter being provided with a transverse aperture for thereception of said bar, the upper edge of the bar being shouldered nearits free end.

12. A battery gun comprising a casting with a sight groove in the upperportion thereof and provided with a recess the front wall of which has aseries of apertures, the walls of which are threaded, a water jacketfitted at its rear end to said casting and having its front endapertured, barrels passing through the apertures in the front ofthejacket and engaging said threaded apertures of the casting, the outerends of the barrels having flanges bearing against the end of 4 theacket shell cli s movable in suitable guide ways in the casting andsaidrecess and provided with shell chambers, means for centering said clips,a rebound plate mounted upon the casting and provided with apertureswhich are in registration'with apertures formed in the rear Wall-of therecess, firing pins mounted in the apertures of-the rebound plate and inthe apertures in the rear wall of the recess, a pivotal firing lever, ahammer pivoted to the lever, and guide rods for supporting the hammer.

13. A battery gun comprising a casting havin a recess therein withthreaded apertures in the front wall of the recess, a water jacketfitted atits rear end to said casting and its forward end provided witha series of apertures, barrels supported at their outer ends in theapertures in said jacket and their inner threaded ends engaging theapertures in said casting, the latter being provided with laterallyextending arms recessed upon their adjacent edges, shell clips movablewithin said recesses of the casting and arms, means for centering theclips, a rebound plate mounted upon the casting, firing pins mounted inregistering apertures in said plate and in the rear wall of the recessof the casting, a lever pivotally mounted upon an arm of the casting, ahammer pivoted to the lever, and guide rods secured to the casting andpassing through registering apertures in said plate and hammer.

14. A. battery gun comprising a casting having a recess therein withthreaded apertures in the front Wall of the recess, a water jacketfitted at its rear end to said casting and its forward end provided witha series of apertures, barrels supported at their outer ends in theapertures in said jacket and their inner threaded ends engaging theapertures in said casting, the latter being provided with laterallyextending arms recessed upon their adjacent edges, clips with webportions connecting the same and movable within said recesses of saidarms and the recess in the casting, said clips provided with a series ofchambers, means for centering the clips with relation to said barrels,an apertured rebound plate, firing pins mounted in said rebound plateand in the rear wall of the said recess, a pivotal firing lever, ahammer pivoted to said lever, and guide rods secured to the casting andpassing through registering apertures in said plate and hammer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH H. GERNER.

Witnesses:

LE RoY W. ARTHUR, FAY L. PARKER.

